Lipex

LIPID LOWERING DRUGS: Atorvastatin

Indication

Lipex (Atorvastatin) is indicated in primary hypercholesterolaemia, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia or combined (mixed) hyperlipidaemia in patients who have not responded adequately to diet and other appropriate measures.

Contraindication

Hypercholesterolaemia and Mixed Dyslipidemia: The recommended starting dose of Lipex (Atorvastatin) is 10 or 20 mg once daily. Patients who require a large reduction in LDL-C (more than 45%) may be started at 40 mg once daily. The dosage range of Lipex (Atorvastatin) is 10 to 80 mg once daily.

Homozygous Familial hypercholesterolaemia: The dosage of Lipex (Atorvastatin) in patients with homozygous FH is 10 to 80 mg daily. Heterozygous Familial hypercholesterolaemia in Pediatric Patients (10-17 years of age): The recommended starting dose of Lipex (Atorvastatin) is 10 mg/day; the maximum recommended dose is 20 mg/day (doses greater than 20 mg have not been studied in this patient population). 

Dosage & Administration

Reversible myositis is a rare but significant side-effects of Lipex (Atorvastatin) are myalgia, myopathy. Lipex (Atorvastatin) also causes headache, altered liver-function tests and gastrointestinal effects including abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. Rash and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported rarely. Also insomnia, angioedema, anorexia, asthenia, paraesthesia, peripheral neuropathy, alopecia, pruritus, impotence, chest pain, hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia reported; thrombocytopenia reported rarely.

Side Effect

Lipex (Atorvastatin) should be used with caution in those with a historyof liver disease or with a high alcohol intake (use should be avoided inactive liver disease). Liver-function tests should be carried out beforeand within 1 -3 months of starting treatment and thereafter at intervalsof 6 months for 1 year, unless indicated sooner by signs or symptomssuggestive of hepatotoxicity. Treatment should be discontinued if serumtransaminase concentration rises to, and persist at, 3 times the upperlimit of the reference range.

Precaution

The risk of myopathy during treatment with drugs of this class isincreased with concurrent administration or cyclosporine, fibric acidderivatives, niacin, erythromycin, azole antifungals. When Lipex (Atorvastatin) and antacid suspension containing magnesium andaluminum hydroxide were co-administered, plasma concentrations ofLipex (Atorvastatin) decreased.

Drug Interaction

Lipex 10: Each box contains 3 x 10 tablets in blister strips.

Lipex 20: Each box contains 2 x 10 tablets in blister strips.